Moth Mimicry

A new study published in the inaugural issue of PLoS ONE (an online open-access journal of science) notes the discovery that metalmark moths (Brenthia) mimic jumping spiders. There are other insects that mimic jumping spiders (a certain zebra-winged fly comes to mind), and we know that there are other moths out there with mimicry phenotypes (large "eyes" on the wings, etc.), so the discovery isn't completely surprising, but it is interesting. From an interview:

"Scientists have now discovered that metalmark moths in Costa Rica use mimicry to escape hunters as well, by mimicking the very predators that might normally eat them.


"Intriguingly, the predators in question—so-called jumping spiders—may also get mimicked by a variety of flies and butterflies. Ironically, some jumping spiders mimic ants to avoid getting devoured by them.
"'Crazy things happen with mimicry and this is another such example,' said researcher Jadranka Rota, a lepidopterist at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
"Rota was exploring the forests of Costa Rica when metalhawk moths perching on leaves near her suddenly flared their wings 'in a really strange way, and then they jumped around,' she told LiveScience.
"Jumping spiders are common predators in these habitats. These territorial hunters track prey with their eyes, and their vision is sharp, capable of making out details 40 body lengths away. The spiders often move in short, rapid, jerky motions.
"In experiments, when metalhawk moths were cooped up with jumping spiders, Rota and her advisor David Wagner found the spiders only caught the moths only about six percent of the time. On the other hand, when normal moths and jumping spiders were caged together, the spiders caught the moths roughly 60 percent of the time."